SWATHES of the UK are under snow and ice warnings today as the first major cold spell of the winter settles in. So where will the snow strike?

Thursday night marked the coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures plunging to 10.7C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire. With temperatures still hovering around freezing in many parts, pedestrians are being urged to take extra caution on icy roads and paths. There is the additional risk of travel disruption as snow begins to settle.

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The Met Office has issued a snow and ice warning along almost the entire east coast of the country.

A separate snow warning has been issued along the length of Wales.

A statement from the Met Office said: “A band of rain, sleet and snow will move eastwards across Wales during Friday morning.

“There remains some uncertainty in the timing and the extent of any snow, but there is likely to be a few hours where 2-4 cm of snow could accumulate on higher level routes, this is chiefly above 250 metres.”

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UK SNOW LIVE: Fresh snowfall expected over the next three days (Image: windy.com)

John West, Met Office meteorologist, said the snowy weather will stay on Saturday into Sunday.

He said: "Any showers that we see over high ground in the north of the country is likely to fall as sleet or snow, and that’s true of Sunday as well."

One forecaster warned the UK could be facing its worst snowfall in years over the next six weeks.

James Madden, a forecaster for Exacta Weather said: “Britain’s weather is about to turn significantly colder and more wintery paving the way for a prolonged cold snap, going forward winter is going to feel very different from the relatively mild conditions so far in the season.

UK SNOW LIVE: Met Office warning 1 (Image: Met Office )

UK SNOW LIVE: Met Office warning 2 (Image: Met Office)

“Unfortunately this is just going to be the start of a series of snow events some of which are shaping up to be quite potent over the coming weeks and through to the close of the month.

“Parts of southern Britain are about to experience some of the heaviest and most disruptive snowfall for years and this is something people should be at the ready for as it comes after quite a benign period.

“On current indications further bouts of extreme cold, wintry weatherareforecast through February and potentially into the start of the meteorological spring.”

The Met Office warnings remain in place until early on Friday afternoon.